Arrests in Al-Ahwaz reveal systematic escalation against Ahwazi arabs
A wave of violent arrests carried out by Iranian occupation forces against Ahwazi Arab citizens in the city of Masjed Soleyman on Saturday, June 28, 2025, has once again spotlighted the systematic repressive policies employed by the Iranian regime against the Ahwazi people, amid rising security tensions and state propaganda about what it calls “war conditions.”
Arbitrary Arrests and an Unknown Fate
According to credible human rights sources, Iranian security forces stormed the homes of three citizens Mohammad Shams, Reza Nowrouzi, and Pouya Shams without presenting any legal warrant. They vandalized their property and terrified their families before forcibly taking them to an undisclosed location.
As of the time this report was prepared, the fate of the detainees remains unknown, with no official statement from the authorities.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the arrests were carried out with excessive violence, as part of an ongoing campaign of intimidation targeting Arab civilians across various cities in the region.
Human rights organizations have described the incident as a continuation of the “systematic and deliberate repression” against the Ahwazi Arab population.
Escalation of Repressive Measures
This development comes amid a clear escalation in security crackdowns across the occupied region of Al-Ahwaz.
Arbitrary arrests, suppression of political and civil activists, censorship of cultural activities, and systematic marginalization in education, employment, and public services have become increasingly widespread.
In recent years, Ahwazi citizens have faced a range of harsh measures, including the violent dispersal of peaceful protests, unfair trials and lengthy prison sentences, reports of torture in detention centers, and the execution of several activists.
Ongoing Human Rights Deterioration
International organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly documented serious violations against the Ahwazi people, calling for an end to arbitrary arrests and for the protection of basic civil rights.
Nevertheless, Iranian occupation authorities have continued to ignore these appeals, justifying their actions under the pretext of “national security” to suppress any form of protest or political expression.
Amid these repeated violations, observers and human rights advocates question the extent of the next wave of repression in Al-Ahwaz especially as both local and international calls intensify for holding Iranian officials accountable for their crimes against the Ahwazi population.
